STAFF AND OPERATIONS

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LIZZIE FLORES
Executive Director

Lizzie is currently an undergraduate student at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley studying Physics, Astronomy, and Mathematics and has done research in Time-domain Astronomy and Galactic Archeology. She leads the organization’s operations and ensures its strategic direction reflects the needs of the Rio Grande Valley.

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SABIAN CARDENAS
Engineering Mentor

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WILLIAM BROWN
Events & Engagement Executive Lead

William holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. A lifelong space enthusiast, William has shared his passion with the community through organizations such as the National Space Society.

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PAULINA MELGAJERO
Creative Outreach Specialist

Paulina is a high school student at Hanna Early College High School with a strong interest in aerospace engineering. She graduated with her associate’s degree from Texas Southmost College in May 2025 and is currently working toward earning her private pilot’s license through South Texas Aviation Academy.

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MYKEL DEL ANGEL
Creative Executive Lead

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Mykel is a former student of Berklee College of Music and is currently pursuing Music Technology and Computer Science at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. He also works as a Photographer and Online Editor for The Rider Newspaper and was formerly an audio-visual technician.

SANTIAGO DE LEON
Lead Photographer

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JAQUELINE PEÑA
Programs and Curriculum Specialist

Jaqueline is an undergraduate at Stanford University studying Mechanical Engineering, where she serves as Co-Lead of the Stanford Student Space Initiative’s Rockets Team and as an officer for the Society of Latinx Engineers.

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RAYYAN FAROOQUI
High School Intern

Rayyan leads the NOVA Space Club at IDEA Brownsville and serves as Vice Chairman of the City of Brownsville’s Youth Advisory Board. Through his work in both STEM and civic engagement, Rayyan is committed to expanding access to space education and empowering youth in his community.

Board of directors

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VICTOR DE LOS SANTOS
Board Chair & Co-founder

Victor is a NASA Solar System Ambassador and advocate of space exploration, STEM education, and the cosmic perspective. He graduated from Texas A&M University in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in Business and works as an Agile Software Development Coordinator.

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DEBBIE COX
Board Member

Debbie is Cameron County Master Gardener Herb Specialist and member of the Herb Society of America, is a life-long learner and nature/garden enthusiast.

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MARIJA JETTE
Digital Design Specialist
& Co-founder

Originally from Belgrade, Serbia, Marija received a bachelor’s degree in Media Arts and Communications from Columbia. She applies her unique skills to STEM education and outreach with accessibility and inclusion as primary drivers of her work.

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STEPHANIE MENDOZA
Board Member

Stephanie is a certified Texas Master Naturalist, and serves as a Solar System Ambassador, sharing the wonders of space with the community. Her expertise extends to wildlife education as a Project WILD Facilitator Trainer.

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PHIL DONAUS
Professional Lead

Phil is a passionate community builder, technologist, and science communicator based in Brownsville, Texas. With a background in nonprofit development, event organization, and digital tools, Phil helps make the cosmos more accessible, especially to students and underserved communities.

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DR.GREG GARCIA
Board Member

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MOISES GOMEZ
Board Treasurer

Moises is a managing partner at Gomez, Fragoso & Associates, Certified Public Accountants (CPA) in Brownsville. An avid Trekkie, Moises has 50 years of accounting and tax experience. He also enjoys traveling and being involved in his community. Moises serves on the boards of several non-profit organizations.

ADVISORY BOARD

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CAROL LEE LUTSINGER
Founder & STEM Educator

Carol spent 40 years as a teacher, serving students from Pre-K through college. Carol attributes her astronomy enthusiasm in part to her experience in the American Astronomical Society’s AASTRA program from 1994-96 and her space excitement from serving as a Solar System Educator, and later Ambassador, for the NASA/JPL program.

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KATY YOUKER
Legal Consultant

Katy Youker joined the Lawyers’ Committee as the Director for the Economic Justice Project in August 2021. Before coming to the Lawyers’ Committee, Katy spent close to two decades at Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid (TRLA) in Brownsville. She has served on the State Bar of Texas Labor and Employment Section executive council, local government committees, and nonprofit boards.

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DR.MARIO DIAZ
UTRGV Liason

Mario Díaz is Director of the Center for Gravitational Wave Astronomy and a Professor of Physics at UTRGV. He is Director of Cristina Torres Memorial Observatory, principal investigator of the Transient Robotic Observatory of the South Collaboration, and a member of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration. He received a PhD in general relativity and gravitation from University of Cordoba, Argentina.

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TIM BARRY
Planetarium Architect

Tim Barry (a.k.a Obi Wan) is a retired architect with a lifelong passion for science education and astronomy. A long-time member of the International Planetarium Society, Tim has played a key role in the design and construction of numerous science centers and planetaria across the country.

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VIKKI PENIX
UTRGV Liason

Vikki Penix serves as the Program Coordinator for the South Texas Space Science Institute (STSSI) at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) in Brownsville. In this role, she manages outreach initiatives, coordinates public science events, and supports educational programming in collaboration with the Department of Physics and Astronomy.

PARTNERS

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“It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience. There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world.

To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we’ve ever known.”

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- Carl Sagan